CMDRT - Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Point-of-Use Treatment and Transport Questions and Answers Flashcards

What is the recommended maximum time between point-of-use treatment and initiation of the decontamination process?

Answer: Instruments should be reprocessed as soon as possible; extended delays increase biofilm risk and complicate cleaning

Instruments should be decontaminated as soon as possible after use, as delays allow biofilm formation and organic material hardening, which compromises cleaning effectiveness.

A sharps injury during transport most commonly occurs due to which situation?

Answer: Improperly secured sharps (e.g., needles, blades) in transport containers or containers that are overfilled

Needlestick and sharps injuries during transport often result from unsecured sharps, overfilled containers, or failure to use puncture-resistant containers.

Which of the following best describes an enzymatic presoak or spray used at the point of use?

Answer: A proteolytic or multi-enzyme solution that begins breaking down proteins and organic debris to facilitate cleaning

Enzymatic presoaks contain proteases and other enzymes that begin digesting blood, tissue, and other organic debris, making manual and automated cleaning more effective.

How should instruments with lumens (channels) be handled at the point of use?

Answer: Flushed with water or enzymatic solution to prevent lumen soil from drying

Lumened instruments should be flushed at the point of use to prevent organic material from drying inside channels, where it is extremely difficult to remove during cleaning.

During transport, why should contaminated instruments be kept separate from clean and sterile items?

Answer: To prevent cross-contamination, which could compromise the sterility or cleanliness of reprocessed items

Separation of contaminated and clean/sterile items during transport prevents cross-contamination, which is a foundational principle of infection prevention in sterile processing.

What role does a transport log or tracking system play in point-of-use instrument management?

Answer: It provides accountability and traceability, allowing the department to track instrument location, timing, and handling for quality assurance

Transport tracking systems ensure accountability, support root cause analysis if instruments are missing or inadequately processed, and contribute to overall quality management.